A FORMULA THAT SOMEHOW WORKS

By Michael Swann

I never cease to be amazed at the level of entertainment generated by Top Rank’s “Latin Fury” PPV series, which seems to be on Volume 236 by now. At first glance you think it’s overpriced at $34.95, and it is, most of the fighters are mediocre or just unknown, and the picture is neither high definition nor digital. Actually, it’s about the equivalent of analog, if that.

So you tell yourself, “No I’m not going to do it again!”

And then, just before broadcast time you find yourself in a state of angst, nervously clutching the remote as you try to stop yourself from pressing the magic button. Being essentially weak, you do it anyway. That’s my story and I’m sure the story of the tens of thousands of hardcore fans who tune in regularly to the “Latin Fury” events. We know the negatives, realize that it’s grossly overpriced, and we buy it anyway because they do deliver a pleasurable pastime.

For one thing, Top Rank’s matchmaker, Bruce Trampler, puts together exciting if not always the most competitive fights, and they put on five bouts, all in rapid succession. There’s no downtime while they advertise upcoming programs, aside from the next “Latin Fury,” which by the way is scheduled in May, with Jorge Arce headlining.

The announcers, blow by blow man Nick Charles, color man Wally Mathews, and expert analyst Genaro Hernandez seemed to be particularly loose on Saturday night and since they were having such a good time, this viewer did too. I enjoyed the ongoing banter, and was particularly happy to hear that they weren’t afraid to offer tribute to the pulchritudinous round card ladies.

I do believe that there was a cameraman with an affinity to blondes, however.

The classy Jimmy Lennon served as the ring announcer, and his bilingual introductions and results must have been great in at least one language because he didn’t leave anything out and I understood him.

The taped replays between rounds were impressively well done. They were presented in a timely basis and always with the right view. It makes you wonder how a well produced show can so efficiently provide such a quick response, but we don’t have instant replay. Yet, we have to endure the WBC’s dratted open scoring. Anyway, someone in the truck deserves an attaboy.

This latest episode of the series was held in an open air bull ring at the Plaza de Toros Juriquilla in Queretaro, Mexico, with the fighters working out of a 16 foot ring. So obviously, there would be little running on this night.

The main attraction, of course, was Mexican hero by birth, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., 36-0-1 (29), who stopped Italian champion Tobia Loriga, 24-1-1 (6), by KO at 1:47 of round nine in a super welterweight fight.

Chavez decked Loriga in round two with a right hand. Then Loriga suffered a very low blow right on the Italian Scallion in round three, but was able to continue, even using a minute and 55 seconds less than Bernard Hopkins did. (Mathews said this one landed in Sicily.)

Chavez twisted his right ankle and fell in round seven, but continued to systematically dismantle Loriga, although he was missing many of his shots, particularly hooks.

In round nine, Chavez landed a big right that started a big flurry. Loriga took a knee and watched as he was counted out, rising at 10.5.

I’m going to take a wild guess that the super welterweight crop in Italy is not a particularly talented bunch, given that Loriga is their champion.

As for the 21 year old Chavez, he’s a money machine right now but it’s difficult to say whether or not he’ll ever reach championship level. He has skills, particularly offensively, but he has flaws, particularly defensively.

Junior’s younger brother Omar, 9-0 (7), won a four round god-awful decision over Marco Nazareth, 5-4 (3), 39-38 and 39-37 (twice) in a super lightweight scrap. I saw it 39-37 for Nazareth. The Mexican fans even chanted, “It’s a sin,” in displeasure over the verdict. But c’mon, did you really think that a Chavez could lose a decision in Mexico?

After the fight, Chavez showed the effects of some blood coming out of a couple of punctured pimples.

Hector Camacho Jr., 45-3-1 (25), outpointed Kenny Kost, 14-4 (6), in an eight round middleweight fight. Camacho looked flabby and soft and wore his cup halfway up to his nipples.

Still, Kost was bad enough to make things easy for Camacho, who wants a fight with Chavez Jr. Kost hit the canvas from a straight left from the southpaw in round two, and in round three he took a knee after a body shot and suffered a cut over his left eye.

Kost was coming on in the final two rounds, his best of the fight by the way. After the bell ending the eighth he returned to his stool and he and his corner were apparently under the mistaken impression that it was a 10 round fight. One wonders if he thought that he had strategically planned to tire out the chubby Camacho.

Kost is from Minnesota and may not have picked up the lingo, but I bet that the next time he comes to Mexico he’ll bring an interpreter.

The scores were 78-74 and 79-71 (twice), all for Camacho. I scored it 78-72 while I wondered how many pounds the TV picture added to Camacho’s frame.

Orlando Salido, 30-9-2 (19) with 1 NC, stopped Renan Acosta, 21-6 (6). Acosta’s corner halted it at 2:39 of round four with their fighter taking a beating on the ropes.

Salido, a two time former title challenger, actually defeated IBF featherweight titlist Robert Guerrero for the belt in 2006, but the fight was declared a No Contest when it was discovered that he tested positive for steroids. In spite of that indiscretion, Salido won an IBF eliminator in December, and is awaiting a rematch with Guerrero.

Boxing can be so forgiving.

In the opener, Bernabe Concepcion, 25-1-1 (14), stopped Terrance Daniels, 10-4-1 (4), in a super bantamweight fight. Concepcion floored Daniels with a short right in round two, and followed with another short right and a finishing flurry on the ropes before referee Ruben Carrion halted the fight at 2:42 of round two.

“Latin Fury” is entertainment, even if it is a bit on the costly side given the talent of the participants. My guess is that most of the buys come from the Southwestern portion of the country, and no fans are more devoted than Mexican fans. So it’s a financial success.

What they do, they do well given the technological limitations on the broadcast to keep the overhead low. Still, a better picture would be nice, as would more competitive fights. But I’m sure that I’ll be tuning in again in May after I receive my Economic Stimulus Package check, because this fan doesn’t suffer from buyer’s remorse.